Police say driver ran stop sigh, hit SUV
NAUGATUCK — An on-duty police officer suffered minor injuries Sunday afternoon when a 23-year-old Naugatuck man ran a stop sign and crashed into the police SUV the officer was driving at the intersection of Hillside Avenue and Millville Avenue, police said.
Police said John Fonseca, 23, was driving south on Hillside Avenue in a 2002 Hyundai Elantra at about 2:25 p.m. and drove through the stop sign at the intersection, crashing into a borough-owned 2019 Ford Explorer driven by officer Steven Fortin.
Police said Fortin was driving east on Millville Avenue through the intersection at the time of the crash. The force of the crash, police said, caused the police SUV to fishtail, go off the road and hit a utility pole.
Police said Fortin reported pain in his head and neck and was taken to Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury. He was treated at the hospital and released on Sunday. Police said he was back on normal duty on Monday.
Fonseca told police he was not injured, according to police.
The Hyundai sustained front-end damage but was not towed from the scene, police said. The police SUV sustained heavy damage and was towed.
Police issued Fonseca an infraction for failing to obey the stop sign.
